The Mother Of All Cannabinoids: A Guide To CBG
CBG plays a crucial role in cannabis. Explore its benefits, effects, and how it shapes modern cannabis products in this CBG guide.
As you become a more discerning cannabis user, you’ll discover that cannabinoids pave the way to grasping the curation of modern products.
Because CBG is considered “The Mother of All Cannabinoids,” it’s a great one to start with.
Throughout this in-depth guide, we’ll break down what CBG is, how biosynthesis connects it to key cannabinoids, how it relates to cannabis use, the effects of CBG, and some relevant cannabis-derived products.
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What’s A Cannabinoid?
In today’s fast-growing world of cannabis studies, with the constant increase in volume and variety of hemp-derived products, the term “cannabinoid” gets tossed around a lot.
Defining Cannabinoids
Cannabinoids are substances that connect with cannabinoid receptors in the body and brain. In addition to hundreds of other chemicals, the cannabis plant has been found to produce between 80 and 100 cannabinoids.
For those who don’t know, the human body has its own endocannabinoid system, which features CB2 receptors that bond with cannabinoids to produce their effects.
Cannabinoids can also evolve into new cannabinoids through a variety of processes, which is how CBG came to earn its maternal reputation.
Phytocannabinoids vs Endocannabinoids
Have you ever asked yourself, “What’s the difference between phytocannabinoids and endocannabinoids?”
Now that we have a primer, it’s actually pretty easy to break down.
Phytocannabinoids are derived from a plant source, specifically the hemp plant.
Endocannabinoids are located within and throughout the human body, making up the system we described above. “Endo” means within.
A Guide to Cannabigerol (CBG)
CBG is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid that can be found in small amounts in raw cannabis plants. In its acidic form (CBGA), it acts as a precursor to popular cannabinoids like CBD and THCa.
Lab professionals can also obtain CBG oil by extracting it in its purest form.
From there, scientists and consumers use and experiment with CBG to explore its biological effects.
We’re going to focus on CBG’s relationship with cannabis products like ours, but you can find a great breakdown of the potential benefits of CBG here.
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How CBG Becomes THCa
We’ll explain below in depth how CBG is present in higher volumes in younger Cannabis sativa plants.
As the plants age, CBGA naturally converts into THCa by a novel enzyme known as THCA synthase (Taura et al. 1995a).
In this case, one acidic precursor leads to another.
THCa is the acidic precursor to Delta-9 THC, which is known as the main psychoactive compound in cannabis products.
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How THCa Becomes Delta-9 THC
When you burn or heat THCa, it converts to Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) via a process called decarboxylation.
The “a” in “THCa” stands for “acid” because that’s its form. The acidic carboxyl group gets removed from heat, leaving us with Delta-9 THC.
Cultivating cannabis products — i.e., cannabis flowers, concentrates, and edibles — with high concentrations of Delta-9 THC has been a standard for growers, users, and dispensaries for a long time.
The level of Delta-9 THC in a given product is actually what distinguishes it between being legally classified as “hemp” vs “marijuana.”
Delta-9 THC and The Farm Bill
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (The Farm Bill) took “hemp” off the federal government’s list of controlled substances. “Marijuana” remains on the list.
What’s the difference between “hemp” and “marijuana?”
According to the Farm Bill, “hemp” is cannabis with no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.
In regards to the rest of the cannabis plant’s cannabinoids, there are no restrictions as to the level at which they can be present in flowers, edibles, or any other products.
Because THCa decarboxylates when smoked or vaped and becomes Delta-9 THC, you can enjoy a hemp product that complies with the Farm Bill and delivers potent psychoactive effects.
When you hit a THCa pen or pre-rolled joint and convert that cannabinoid to Delta-9 THC, it’s the culminating point of a long process:
Cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) exists in a young Cannabis sativa plant
The plant ages, and THCA synthase converts that CBGA into THCa and CBDa
The flowers or concentrates are cultivated to maintain a balance of THCa and other cannabinoids, keeping levels of Delta-9 THC in the dry product compliant with the Farm Bill
The THCa-forward product is consumed — i.e., by vaping or smoking — and that primary cannabinoid goes through decarboxylation and becomes Delta-9 THC
The Delta-9 THC cannabinoids enter the body and bond with CB2 receptors and the body’s nervous system to deliver its effects
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How Delta-9 THC Can Become Other Cannabinoids
If you think the amazing world of cannabinoid conversion and evolution stops there, you are mistaken.
When it comes to Delta-9 THC, its synthetic derivatives have helped pave the way for a modern cannabis culture that’s enriched with an abundance of variety.
Through processes like isomerization, Delta-9 THC can convert into:
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Back To CBG
Considering the long chain of evolution, CBG can experience throughout the long life of a cannabis plant, its maternal reputation makes a lot of sense. And believe it or not, it doesn’t end there.
While its connection to the psychotropic cannabinoids we know and love, it also has a close relationship to CBD, which we know and love.
Cannabigerol (CBG) and Cannabidiol (CBD)
Remember above when we talked about how CBG exists in abundance in the young cannabis Sativa plant, but as it ages, it converts into THCa via THCa synthase?
That’s not the only cannabinoid that it evolves into.
It turns out there are also CBDA synthase enzymes, which take some of that CBG and help it evolve into CBDa as the plant matures.
Cannabis professionals and users can then convert CBDa into CBD via a non-enzymatic decarboxylation, which is similar to how we heat THCa to create Delta-9 THC.
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CBG in Full-Spectrum Cannabis Products
CBG is related to psychotropic cannabinoids such as Delta-9 THC, and it also remains present in small concentrations in full-spectrum cannabis products.
Despite not being psychoactive, its effects are embedded in the cumulative taste and response you’ll get from enjoying flowers, concentrates, edibles, and vape products.
The Entourage Effect
Technically a theory, the entourage effect refers to the cumulative experience of consuming full-spectrum cannabis products.
While we take certain cannabinoids and process them to develop products that feature them in higher concentrations, the natural cannabis plant features all of them scattered in mostly small concentrations.
Consuming a vape cartridge filled with distillate that’s over 90% Delta-9 THC is going to feel somewhat different than consuming one that features mostly Delta-8 THC.
And in that vein, consuming holistic and full-spectrum concentrates, flowers, and edibles produces its own wholesome experience with what could be reasonably argued as the most complex flavor and terpene profiles, plus the most dynamic psychoactive and non-psychoactive effects.
When you’re considering the entourage effect or seeking it out in a smoking, vaping, or eating experience, you’re seeking out all of the cannabinoids and the natural symphony they construct.
Also, remain open to the fact that we are all different, and everyone responds to specific cannabis products differently.
So when seeking the entourage effect, or a more focused and dialed-in experience, always make sure to consider your tolerance, experience level, and personal comforts in addition to the pharmacology of the product.
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How CBG Oil Is Made
CBG is being studied and explored as a leading cannabinoid for new products across a variety of industries.
The oil could theoretically be applied to cartridges, waxes, dab badders, and topical solutions.
CBG is present mainly in young cannabis plants and slowly converts to THCa and CBDa as it ages.
So when extracting it, cannabis scientists need to use fresh, young cannabis plants as their CBG-rich biomass starting points.
From there, the process is similar to creating THCa and other types of THC oils and concentrates.
The plant material is soaked in a solvent. The most common solvents for CBG oil extraction are CO2 and ethanol. This pulls out unwanted terpenes and cannabinoids.
Fromthere, the material is filtered via heat, evaporation, and vacuum techniques to isolate and capture a product that’s mostly or purely CBG.
Learn More: A Guide To Live Resin vs Distillate: 5 Key Differences Explained
FAQs on CBG
Q: Is CBG legal?
CBG is legal. Hemp has been off the federal government’s list of controlled substances since the passing of the Farm Bill in 2018.
Cannabis products are considered hemp as long as they are no more than 0.3% Delta-9 THC by dry weight.
This leaves room for the cultivation of a rich variety of CBG-forward products and full-spectrum cannabis products that comply with the Farm Bill.
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Q: Can CBG help with sleep?
We are not a wellness resource, so we cannot discuss CBG’s potential benefits.
It has been studied and explored for a range of potential uses.
Q: What’s the difference between CBG and CBD?
CBG is essentially a precursor to CBD. As the Cannabis sativa plant matures, its natural concentration of CBGA develops and converts into THCa and CBDa.
CBD can then be derived from CBDa via decarboxylation.
For a thorough understanding, refer back to the section above entitled ‘Cannabigerol (CBG) and Cannabidiol (CBD).’
Q: What’s the difference between CBG and CBC?
Like THCa and CBDa, CBCa is another cannabinoid that derives from aging CBG cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.
CBCa converts to CBC, which is another non-psychotropic cannabinoid that can be present in full-spectrum cannabis products and is the product of a range of studies across the scientific community.
Considered one of the minor cannabinoids among regular users, its relevance is growing the more it’s studied and highlighted in new cannabis products.
Q: What’s the difference between CBG and CBN?
Unlike CBG, cannabinol (CBN) is one of the cannabis plant’s many psychoactive cannabinoids.
Its effects include drowsiness and mild euphoria that are less intense than those brought on by Delta-9 THC.
CBN is derived from the oxidation of THCa in aged cannabis. The process mainly includes exposing the plant to direct sunlight to bring out more CBN.
Because THCa derives from CBG, and CBN derives from THCa — this is another branch on the cannabinoid family tree that has CBG sitting right on the top.
Q: What’s the difference between CBG and CBDv?
Cannabidivarin is another non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant.
It’s considered an analog or a variant of CBD and has only been known by scientists since 1969.
So, in comparison to CBG, CBDv is another derivative that lacks psychoactive effects and is studied by scientists for other potential therapeutic effects.
Q: Does CBG get you high?
A: Directly speaking, no. CBG is a non-psychotropic cannabinoid. In terms of extracts, CBG oils aren’t generally intended to get users high.
Indirectly, CBG can be linked to a lot of the good times cannabis users have had over the centuries. There are two reasons why.
The first reason why CBG can be indirectly linked to high times is because of its maternal relationship to THCa and then Delta-9 THC.
And then Delta-9 THC’s relationship to other variations of psychoactive cannabinoids like Delta-8 THC and Delta-10 THC adds to CBG’s web of influence.
The second reason why you can link CBG to the experience of consuming cannabis is because of the entourage effect.
When you consume full-spectrum cannabis products, you are taking in the combined effects of all of the cannabinoids within them.
So trace elements of CBG present in THCa-forward, Delta-9 THC-forward, and other dynamic products play a role in the overall experience.
Q: Where can I buy full-spectrum cannabis products online?
Finding full-spectrum cannabis products isn’t as straightforward as it used to be.
Finding a distributor with transparent cultivation and production practices is the first step to ensuring you’re buying a full-spectrum product.
Mood, for example, offers a certificate of analysis with every product to demonstrate how it’s been tested by third-party labs to meet federal legal and health standards.
We also list the cannabinoids featured in our products, so you can seek out concentrated or more dynamic experiences.
We’re lucky to live in a time when there’s a seemingly endless range of concentrates and edibles that are designed to highlight specific cannabinoids to either tailor psychoactive effects or remove them altogether.
For those who appreciate the flavor and cumulative effects of full-spectrum cannabis products, we recommend exploring the wide range of cannabis flowers, live-resin vapes and concentrates available with Mood.
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Concentrates and Vapes From The Mood Shop
After all of this talk about the mother of all cannabinoids, you might feel ready to experiment with some products that descend from CBG.
Let’s take a look at some of our vapes and concentrates featuring cannabinoids such as THCa, HHC, THCp, and CBD.
THCa Badder For Your Dab Rig
THCa’s connection to CBG might have you interested in its decarboxylation process. A dab rig is a great way to try it out for yourself. The whipped, buttery consistency of the dab badder makes it smooth to hit, whether with a rig, via a vape pen, or on top of some sticky cannabis buds.
Get 1g of this THCa Ice Queen Dab Badder for just $49 from the Mood Shop today. Subscribe and save 15%.
Moonrocks: The Caviar Of Cannabis
The perfect product for lovers of flowers and concentrates alike — these THCa Moonrocks feature a core of THCa flowers. Remember, these will convert to your classic Delta-9 THC when you vape it or smoke it. That ball of flowers comes coated in sticky distillate and then covered in soothing CBD kief.
For a classic high, get an eighth of these THCa Moonrocks for just $49 from the Mood Shop today. Subscribe and save 15%.
THCa Disposable Vapes
Mood’s selection of disposable THCa vapes is designed to be flavorful, potent, and easy to use. This particular one features just under 53% THCa and 17% CBD. Its Afghani Kush base provides a rich, earthy flavor complemented by flowery cannabis aromatics that you know and love.
Get a 1g THCa Purple Afghani Disposable Vape for just $60 from the Mood Shop today. Subscribe and save 15%.
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